Appreciated in Lhasa.

Two good friends of Tashi recently got in touch with a surprising discovery, Joona Ripo and Matthew Linden during their winter study at Lhasa University, stumbled upon a typical Tibetan tea house on the Barkhor that surrounds the holy Jokhang temple in old Lhasa.

What caught their eye was a recognisable image above the entrance doorway, unexpected and out of context, yet at the same time comfortably at home, was a print of one of Tashi Mannox's art pieces "Kagyu Tiger". 

Being familiar with Tashi's work, they entered to find many more of his works covering the walls of the establishment. Astonished to find this 'voluntary exhibition', the owner was unaware of the artist and did not admit to how he acquired the prints, which where obviously lifted and printed from Tashi's website. 

When this news reached Tashi along with these photos from Matthew Linden, he remarked that it was an honour to have such an 'exhibition' not only in such a sacred place of great connection and blessing so near to the Jokhang, but more so, that the Tibetans themselves value his art and hang it as their own, what a huge compliment!

This last photo below in the tea room shows a group of young Tibetan lads all engaged with their cell phones. The iPhone is apparently the popular choice among Tibetans, mostly because it has an app for writing in the Tibetan language. 

Joona and Matt also commented that they often see Tibetans with a Tashi artwork used as their screen wall paper, as shown below.

See more astonishing photographs from Matthew Linden on his website here.

Printing black པར་ནག།

"Homage to Mahakala" now available as prints.

"homage to Mahakala" Ⓒ Tashi Mannox 2012

The Image of Mahakala the great black one, with his all seeing bulging eyes of the past, present and future, snarling and bearing teeth to bite trough ego clinging, is somewhat demon looking, though what Mahakala represents is the wrathful quality of compassion that is sometimes needed to cut through the more stubborn inner and outer obstacles, as we tread the precarious path to enlightenment. 

A protector of the Dharma, Mahakala is considered a manifestation of Buddha activity that as a Yidam practice transforms anger and hatred into lovingkindness and wisdom. For this reason it is especially practiced at the end of the old year, to chase away any old baggage and obstacles to clear a way for the new year. 

This particular image of Mahakala, bearing his name as his teeth, has been popular and admired by many who have asked its availability as a print. 

Tashi is pleased to say that after some very skillful photography by professional means, plus much attention and care to maintain the subtly of the multilayered effect of the black on black inks, that was previously not thought possible to replicate. It is now available to order a limited edition print of this iconic image.

To give the prints a special dimension, the eyes iris are hand gilded with 23.6ct red pure gold leaf, that illuminate and enrich the prints splendor.

The prints are limited to editions of 100 in three sizes:

- Large size of 67x50 cm, 26½"x19¾" inches @ £395 GBP

- Half size of 50x37.5 cm, 19¾"x14¾" inches @ £295 GBP

- Small size of 35x26 cm, 13¾"x10¼" inches @ £255 GBP

For orders please follow the link here.

As reproductions are printed to order and hand finished, delivery of prints may take from 5 days to two weeks to arrive from the date of payment.

Additional Post and shipping costs may vary depending on where you are based in the world, please provide the address you wish the print to be sent to when contacting Tashi, so that the correct costs can be calculated and quoted.

Design originally by Tashi's master of art Sherab Palden.

Obstacle Clearance

'Homage to Mahakala' the face of the Great Black one, Tashi Mannox 2007

On the last day of the Tibetan year prayers are offered to the wrathful Dharma protector called Mahakala 'the Great Black One'. This is traditionally an all day sadhana སྒྲུབ་ཐབས practice to clear away obstacles of the old year to clear the way for a peace and progress in the Dharma. It is a cathartic and effective way to let go of negativity and purify body speech and mind of the new year ahead.

The yearly Mahakala practice culminates with a ceremonial 'cham' dance to symbolically chase out and repel the demons of the old year, called the black hat dance. The main character of the dance is usually performed by a high Lama who is particularly attained in  the visualization of the sadhana, who's role is given the title dorje lopon. 

The Mahakala dance has its origins from a time in historical Tibet when an anti-Dharma King was shot with an arrow from a bow concealed in the long pointed sleeves of the gown worn by the dancers of his court. This has since become symbolic of the victory over the inner and outer obstacles one may encounter on a spiritual path.  A similar costume is worn today together with an apron depicting the face of Mahakala, the protector of the Dharma.

A young Gyaltsab Rinpoche wearing the black hat dance costume at Rumtek
monastery in Sikkim. Photography by Peter Mannox.

With the dust of the old year symbolically clean away, it is traditional for a more practical spring clean of the household in Tibet, which with the celebrations of the new year 'losar' and on this day only, the servants of the house would be allowed to swop cloths and roles with the masters, in a party atmosphere of joy and a refreshing shake-up of conformity.

The Tibetan New Year of 2011 bounds in with the Female Iron Hare or Rabbit, which is said to be a particularly joyful and prosperous year ahead.

May goodness increase.